Middletown native's long wait is finally over

The worst part were the questions: Why aren't you in school? Still playing ball?

JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ

The worst part were the questions: Why aren't you in school? Still playing ball?

Last year, Ryan Rhoomes, a prized basketball recruit, was supposed to begin his college career at Division I Texas Christian University. Instead, Rhoomes was back home in Middletown, worrying about his future, working two jobs at Woodbury Common after being declared academically ineligible by the NCAA.

"I was stressed," said Rhoomes, a 6-foot-9 power forward who played for Middletown as a sophomore (2007-08), before transferring to Benjamin Cardozo High in Queens. "I just tried to keep my distance from people. I would say, 10 times a day, people would ask me about school — little kids who looked up to me in the neighborhood and people like that. I was a little embarrassed. I just tried to lay low."

At times, Rhoomes feared his Division I dreams would be dashed. As it turns out, they just took a detour, taking him back east to play at Fordham.

"I'm real happy," said Rhoomes, a freshman. "Last year was pretty much a terrible year. It was tough. It just wasn't normal for me not to be on the court. I'm just lucky to have so many people at Fordham who really worked hard for me on my situation."

Rhoomes committed to TCU in the spring of 2011. He had full scholarship offers from more than a dozen big-time schools, including Oklahoma State, Seton Hall and Providence. All set to converge on the Lone Star State in August of last year, Rhoomes learned that the NCAA refused to approve classes he took in 2010-11 at NIA Prep in Newark, N.J.

According to Rhoomes, 20, TCU suggested that he enroll in junior college. However, he didn't want to lose a year of Division I eligibility. So, as instructed by the NCAA, he took online classes to regain his eligibility and stayed in Middletown.

Rhoomes picked up a full-time sales associate job at Calvin Klein at Woodbury Common and another part-time position at Under Armour. When he wasn't working almost 60 hours a week — in part to take his mind off of his lost year — he worked on his game at the Middletown YMCA and lifted weights at Planet Fitness in the Town of Wallkill.

"Ryan is a young guy who had a dream and he worked steadfastly to get it," Fordham coach Tom Pecora said. "That's one thing that impressed all of us. He was doing everything he could do to play and working two jobs. Ryan, that poor kid, he was like a victim of the system. There are some silly rules, but he continued to grind. Ryan continued to do the right thing and, thank God, he ended up eligible."

Rhoomes is averaging 3.8 points and 3.8 rebounds for Fordham in 18.4 minutes per game this season. After a year off, he admits, he's still a rusty. Maybe a little behind the D-I basketball curve. But Pecora still sees potential in Rhoomes. The coach believes Rhoomes can evolve into one of the top players in the Atlantic-10 in the coming years.

"In the long run, Ryan is going to be a special player," Pecora said. "The sky's the limit. He knows how to play the game and he has the physical skills. He's 6-9, 240 pounds as a freshman. When you start projecting that he's going to get bigger, that's pretty impressive. We will just keep building on what Ryan already has."

Rhoomes, also courted by St. John's, Temple and Seton Hall post-TCU, enrolled at Fordham this fall. Still, he had to wait for the NCAA to approve his online coursework and reinstate him. Rhoomes was not cleared by the time Fordham left for Westchester County Airport in White Plains on Nov. 8 for its season opener at Texas State a day later.

On the way to the airport, Duke received a call from Fordham's compliance office, telling him the NCAA cleared Rhoomes. Rhoomes joined the team at the airport, receiving a standing ovation from his teammates when he boarded the plane. He played against Texas State.

"I didn't think my first college game would ever happen," Rhoomes said. "I didn't want to sit home and listen to the game on the radio. When I got on the plane, everyone was clapping and they congratulated me over the loudspeaker. I still have some work to do, but I'm happy to be here. This is the best place for me and I'm happy to be playing."

jrodriguez@th-record.com

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